Game of thrones: Emirship tussle tears Kano apart

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Game of thrones: Emirship tussle tears Kano apart

The reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano on Thursday, and the consequent dethronement of Emir Ado Bayero, has come with dramatic twists, turns and intrigues, creating anxiety and a tense situation in the state.

The development, likened to the plot depicted in Game of Thrones, a Hollywood series, is laced with political maneuverings and undertones, setting the once peaceful state divided and on the fringe of implosion.

Waploaded reports that the two royal families: Bayero and the Sanusi families are now in a supremacy battle over the highly coveted Emirate stool in the ancient city of Kano.

Recall that Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II beat Aminu Ado Bayero to succeed the latter’s father, Emir Ado Bayero, in 2014.

But six years later, Sanusi was deposed for his predecessor’s son, Aminu Ado Bayero, amid a fallout with the state government under former governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

However, four years later and with Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, in the saddle as the governor, Sanusi headed back to the throne on Thursday.

Waploaded reported that the Kano State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the Kano Emirates Council Law (Repeal Bill) 2024, dethroning all the five first class Emirs of the state.

The House which passed the bill dissolved the five Emirates created by former governor Ganduje. Those were Bichi, Rano, Gaya, Karaye as well as the Kano Emirate.

According to the new law, all offices established under the amended law have been set aside thereby reviving the Single Emirate System in the state.

The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, claimed that the reinstatement of the deposed Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, was a fulfilment of his campaign promise.

In a statement by the spokesperson for the governor, Sanusi Bature, he said, “Governor Yusuf further articulated that the return of Muhammad Sanusi II back on throne will propel peace and prosperity, adding that the repeal of the council law was in realisation of his campaign commitments to restore the lost glory of the state and its rich cultural heritage.

“Everyone should go about his or her normal activities in the state, we have done what we believe is in the best interest of the state and its people.”

The governor further issued 48 hours to Aminu Ado Bayero and four other former first class chiefs to vacate their palaces and hand over all emirates property to the office of the deputy governor.

Controversial court order

However, a few hours to Sanusi’s reinstatement, a new twist was introduced to the ensuing drama as a Federal High Court in Kano granted an ex-parte order stopping Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II pending the determination of a substantive suit filed against the reinstatement.

The order also halted the abolishment of four emirates: Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano.

The court, however, directed all parties involved to maintain status quo ante pending the determination of the suit filed by Sarkin Dawaki Babba and Aminu Babba-Dan’Agundi on Thursday.

Security agencies vow to obey controversial court order

Following the controversial court order, the joint security agencies, under the leadership of the Kano Police Commissioner, Muhammad Usaini Gumel, said they would obey the court order issued by a Federal High Court stopping the state government from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The Police Commissioner, Muhammad Usaini Gumel, alongside other top security officers of the military, the DSS and others, warned that they would not allow anybody to break peace and unity of the State using what is happening in the Emirate Council.

“Our joint security resolved to keep peace in Kano, and the development surrounding the Emirates Council; the Police Command respects the court order, alongside other security agencies and we have resolved to ensure that we keep peace in the state,” he said.

He added that they would not be compelled by anybody to carry out any assignment.

“As far as the situation of the Emirate is concerned, we recognize the Emir who was there as stated by the Court, and we are only respecting Court orders which says status quo should be maintained and that is where we stay and stand,” he added.

The Police Commissioner further stated that, “the position of law is very clear that whoever tries to cause problems will be arrested without hesitation.

“Miscreants are advised to stay away from causing havoc in the State, as the safety of the people remain sacrosanct.”

Bayero returns to Kano

Amid the tense atmosphere in the State, Bayero was said to have been brought back to Kano and was at the Nasarawa Emir’s Rest House adjacent to the Ministry of Works.

It was gathered that he returned to the town in the early hours of Saturday.

The aircraft which conveyed the deposed Emir touched down at the Aminu Kano International Airport at about 4:30 am.

Yusuf orders Bayero’s arrest

However, as tension enveloped Kano over alleged forceful return of deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, Governor Yusuf, on Saturday ordered his immediate arrest.

Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, in a statement said that in the governor’s position as the State Chief Security Officer, he has ordered the arrest of the deposed Emir for violating the laws and his directives.

Ganduje using Ribadu to sustain deposed Kano Emir – Dep. Gov

Amid the confusion, the Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo, accused the immediate past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, of trying to impose the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero on the state.

Gwarzo made the allegation on Saturday while speaking to journalists at the Emir’s palace.

He said Ganduje was using the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to achieve his objective.

He said: “It is unfortunate that the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, is using the National Security Adviser to create tension in the state by smuggling into the state, the former emir, Aminu Ado Bayero.

“The appointment and dethronement of Emir or any traditional title holder is solely the prerogative of the state government.

“I am here together with the governor and other top government functionaries to ensure that the new emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II starts exercising his power and authority immediately after he was given his appointment letter yesterday”.

Ribadu denies claim

However, in a swift reaction, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Saturday, denied claims of providing air transport for the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero to return to the state.

Speaking through the spokesman of NSA office, Mallam Zakari Mijinyawa, Ribadu maintained that he did not provide the aircraft that returned the sacked Emir to Kano.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, he said: “I read the comments on social media, it is untrue.

“The NSA did not provide air transport to anyone to Kano.